Microsoft Access Record Locks Template

Videos

•  1. Introduction (2:27)
•  2. Record Locks in Access (18:32)
•  3. Custom Record Locks (23:09)
•  4. Record Locks Template (14:04)

Description

Microsoft Access has built-in record locking, to prevent two users from modifying the same record at the same time. You have to know how to turn it on and use it, which I cover in my Free TechHelp video (Video #2 above). However, it's not very user friendly, and there are some problems with it. First of all, if you have record selectors turned off, your user won't know why they can't edit the record. Also, if you try to run an action query that modifies anything in the entire table, it might fail if just one record is locked.

That's why I designed my own record locking system. In Video #3, I teach you how to set up your own record locks. You'll create your own record lock table and add the appropriate code to your database to read/write locked records and make changes to the form, such as putting *LOCKED* in the form caption. You will learn how to lock your customer table and form so two users can't edit the same record at the same time AND they'll get a more user-friendly warning. Plus I'll show you how to check if any records are locked before you run any update queries that might affect the entire table.

Then, in Video #4, I will walk you through the custom Record Lock Template. I've created a set of functions and a global module that you can use to lock ANY table/form you want. I'll show you how to implement them in your database. You'll learn how to change the form's background color to red if the record is locked. I'll show you how to use a timer event to lock/unlock the record (if you're waiting for someone else to be finished editing it, for example). Then I'll show you functions to determine if a single record is locked, or if any record in the table is locked. 

Database Download

Once you have purchased the full database template, come back to this page and click on the Download button below. This will give you access to the ZIP file containing the Template ACCDB file. You will also have access to videos 3 and 4 above. Please watch them.

License

For internal use only. This template does NOT come with a royalty-free license. You may only customize the template for your business needs and for use within your organization at one location ONLY. You may not resell or distribute any form of this template to others without express written permission. Contact me for additional information on obtaining a license to distribute if you plan on including this template in a product you are reselling. Additional licenses are required if you plan on using this template with more than ten (10) employees or in multiple locations within your organization.

Not a Finished Product

Please keep in mind that most of my template databases are not designed to be finished products that are ready to go in a working environment. My templates are meant as starting points for you to customize for yourself so you don't have to reinvent the wheel. This requires that you have a basic understanding of Microsoft Access development. To work on most of my databases you should have completed my Access Beginner series and the first couple levels of my Expert series at a minimum. Most of my databases require knowledge of SQL and VBA as well. 

Customize For Your Needs

If you would like to discuss customizing this template for your needs, and integrating it into your current setup, please see my consulting page for details. While I no longer accept custom jobs that are specific to a single user, I may include your features in a future version of this template if they have mass appeal. If you are looking for custom enhancements made to this template just for you, visit my Developer Network.

Technical Support

Please note that technical support is NOT guaranteed for any of my courses, seminars, or templates. If you require help with modifying this template, you may post a question in the Forums, however an answer to your question is not guaranteed. If this template comes with an accompanying Seminar, then you should purchase that Seminar to see how the database was constructed. If not, then you should have taken the suggested courses. Most of my templates are designed on a Developer level and you should have a thorough understanding of SQL and VBA before attempting to modify them. If you have a problem with one of my databases, I will only support the unmodified database exactly as it's downloaded from my site. If you have modified it in any way, it may not be something I can help you with. You can post in the Forums, and I may be able to help you, but if the issue doesn't exist in my unmodified database, it's not something I can support.

Questions?

Got sales or customer service questions about this template? Feel free to contact me. If you have technical "how do I" questions about this template, you discover a bug, or want to suggest a new feature, then please post your comments below.

Keywords

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